UP to £4,000 is set to be raised for a cancer charity in a marathon gig by a Wyre Forest band - but if your name's not down, you're not coming in.

Tom The Frop are amazed how quickly their concert at Stourport Civic Hall on Saturday, March 15 has sold out - but have promised a fun-filled evening for those who have managed to get a ticket.

Cash will be raised for Cancer Research UK at the gig, which was the brainchild of Pat Hayhurst, a friend of the band who died from the disease, aged 52, last summer.

All of the five band members have either lost friends or relatives or known people who have suffered from cancer.

However, member Max Keen is at pains to point out it will not be a morbid affair when 350 people, including guests, take their places at the gig for a night of sponsored songs, with a raffle and ticket sale set to push up the total raised.

"I thought we might sell all the tickets, but not as quickly as we did," he said.

"I was planning to set up radio interviews and all sorts of things to give it a final push but in the end it hasn't been necessary.

"We have raised £2,200 so far, with more still coming in. We're hoping for £3,000, £3,500 or even up to £4,000."

The band's set list is displayed on their website - www.tomthefrop.co.uk - and some sponsorship pledges have been made through the internet.

The likes of The Beatles, Elvis, REM and The Rolling Stones feature heavily in their 60s to 90s repertoire, but it is Wilson Picket's Mustang Sally which has attracted the most backing, with five individual sponsors.

Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor will get the event underway, while Bewdley mayor Frank Baillie, a town council colleague of Max Keen, has followed his lead and changed his chosen good cause for his year's fund-raising to Cancer Research UK.

Twelve volunteers from the Wyre Forest branch of the charity will take on stewarding duties - and Mr Keen has stressed absolutely no tickets will be available on the door.

But there is a surprise in store for Tom the Frop devotees in the audience as the band are planning to change one of their routines - opening with A Hard Day's Night by The Beatles.

Mr Keen is keeping the details of the new start a closely-guarded secret but pledged to get people dancing.

"Although it's a serious cause the idea is that it will be a fun night from start to finish."